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Tipper Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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tipper

[ˈtɪpər ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

financial

A person who gives a small sum of money as a gratuity or in recognition of service.

Synonyms

donor, giver, gratuity giver.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
tipper

Someone who gives a small amount of money, usually to staff like waiters or taxi drivers, to show appreciation for their service.

  • The tipper left a generous amount for the waiter after the excellent dinner service
gratuity giver

A formal term for someone who provides a gratuity, typically in the context of service-related industries like restaurants and hotels.

  • The gratuity giver presented a tip to the hotel staff for their exceptional service
donor

Someone who gives something, especially money or goods, often to a charity or a cause.

  • The donor made a substantial contribution to the cancer research fund
giver

A general term for someone who gives something to someone else, which can be in various forms such as gifts, time, or help.

  • She's always been a generous giver, donating both her time and resources to those in need

Examples of usage

  • The tipper left a generous tip for the waiter.
  • She is known to be a generous tipper at restaurants.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A person who informs on someone to the police or other authority.

Synonyms

informer, snitch, whistleblower.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
tipper

Someone who gives a tip, often anonymously, to law enforcement or authorities about a crime or suspicious activity.

  • The tipper's information led to the capture of the suspect.
  • Because of the anonymous tipper, the stolen goods were recovered.
informer

Often used in legal or criminal contexts to describe someone who provides information, sometimes in exchange for a reward or leniency.

  • The police relied on an informer to break the case open.
  • The gang suspected there was an informer among them.
snitch

Has a negative connotation, referring to someone who informs on others, often betraying trust and causing harm to the people they inform on.

  • Nobody in the neighborhood trusted him; they believed he was a snitch.
  • He was labeled a snitch after he gave away his friend's secret.
whistleblower

Describes someone who exposes unethical or illegal activities within an organization, often with the intent of stopping wrongdoing and protecting the public interest.

  • The whistleblower revealed the company's illegal dumping practices.
  • She became a celebrated whistleblower after disclosing the fraud.

Examples of usage

  • He was labeled as a tipper for revealing the truth to the authorities.
  • The tipper provided crucial information to the investigation.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural Practices

  • Tipping customs vary widely around the world; for example, in Japan, it's often considered rude, while in the U.S., it's expected.
  • In some cultures, it's customary to tip private service workers, such as taxi drivers or hotel staff, while in others, it's not common at all.

Social Psychology

  • Research shows that people often tip more when they are provided with personal attention from service staff, suggesting a link between social interaction and gratuity.
  • Studies indicate that tipping behavior can be influenced by factors like the level of service received, the customer's mood, and societal norms.

Economics

  • In countries where tipping is common, servers often rely on tips as a significant part of their income, sometimes accounting for more than half of their earnings.
  • Some businesses have experimented with no-tipping policies, opting to raise menu prices instead, challenging traditional expectations of gratuities.

Legal Perspectives

  • In the U.S., tips are generally considered a part of an employee's wages, and laws regulate how tips are distributed and taxed.
  • Some states have specific rules regarding how much employers must pay their tipped employees in order to meet minimum wage requirements.

Origin of 'tipper'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'tip' comes from the 17th-century slang, possibly derived from 'to ensure promptness', where 'tip' meant to give money for better service.
  • In the past, tipping was not a common practice in Europe, and it faced opposition as an idea brought over by Americans after the Civil War.

The word 'tipper' originated in the mid-19th century, derived from the earlier sense of 'tip' as a small present of money given for services rendered. Over time, the term evolved to also refer to someone who provides information to authorities. The dual meaning of 'tipper' reflects the diverse contexts in which the word is used today.

See also: tip, tips, tipster, tipsy.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,286, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.